Wall switch



July 11, 1933.

F. E. JOHNSON WALL SWITCH Filed May 1929 Patented July 11, 1933 PAULDING, GHUSETTS WALL SWITCH Application. filed May 16,

This invention relates to an electric-switch and more particularly to a switch of that type known as a snap switch in which the circuit is controlled by a rocker member actuated by a spring controlled by a snap or toggle lever.

The main object of the invention is the provision of a switch of the above character of simplified construction having few parts and those capable of being stamped from sheet material and made in one operation in order to secure rapid production at a low cost.

7 Another object of the invention is by a simplified construction to expediate the as sembling operation and thereby reduce the cost of manufacture. i

A further object is the provision of a simple frame for supporting and holding inplace the switch mechanism which is also adapted for locking in position the cap or cover designed to conceal the switch mechanism,- et permitting its removal when necessary. 7

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one form of the invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view-of a wall switch constructed in accordance therewith; Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the same with the cap or cover removed and on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 33 in Fig. 2 with the cap or cover added; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View 011 line in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the contact mom'- ber and fixed contacts with that member shown in full lines in engagement with the contacts to close the circuit and in dotted lines in open position andFig. 6 is a side elevation on a reducedscale of theswitc-h cap or cover. r

Referring to the drawing 10 indicates a body of porcelain or other insulatin material of disk form having its outer face 12 provided with suitable recesses for receiving the various parts of the switch mechanism. A frame 14 made of sheet material is fastened across the outer face of the body 10 by two screws 16, the central portion of said frame being of reversed U-shape and the two ends ri ts Pars ed within a central recess NT orries MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'IC'O JOHN I.

me, on NEW BEDFORD, messaor-insn'r'rs, a Genres-Arron or MA$SA-- was. Serial to. 363,521.

18 of the frame beyond the screws 16 being (turned up and then outwardly-as free ends. The center of the U-shap'ed portion is expanded laterally and is cut out to form two side supports 20 each having an inner turned down pin 24 carrying a toggle or snap lever 26 of insulating material. The latter has set in a groove in its lower edgea plate28 which is held locked in said groove by; thepin 24 which passes through an ear formed on the inner edge ofthe plate. On'its lower edge the plate has a central projecting tongue 30 bored to receive one end of a'helical spring 32 for actuating a rocker member 34 mountof the insulating body. The rocker member,

36 in the outer face ear122ibor'ed to receive one end of a stamped from sheetma-terial, is U-shaped} with an inner lug 38on its bottom which projects into the bottom end of the spring 32 and holds it against displacement since the spring is under compression at all times The two ends of the rocker member are turned outwardly to form journal portions 40 loosely mounted in grooves 42 formed in the walls 43 and 44 of the insulating'body and one ofsaid ends is extended tocarry a contact member or blade 46 The contact member is made up of two elongated,

thin blades having their ends 48 laterally extended on both sides and flared V rocker member, that end is provided with a transverse shoulder portion 52- and the blades are mounted on theend 50 between washers 54 insulated from the blades by intermediatewashers 56 of insulating material, the parts being held against the shoulder 52 by crimping over the end 50 upon the. outermost washer 54. The slots in the blades are somewhat largerthan theend 50 of the rocker member so that the former is insulated from the latter.

In one position of the rocker member; the two flared ends of't'he contact member engage operable in a o recess 47 for closing and openlng the ClICHlt.

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two fixed contacts 60 to close the circuit (Fig. These contacts are each in the form of a flat strip having one end bent at right angles and then turned in a reverse direction for engagement with the contact member and having the other end provided .with a binding screw 62 threaded there- 64 of insulating material interposed between I each contact. and the frame and the latter is insulated from the screws by parts of the insulating body which extend in the form of rings around the screws through the holes in the frame (Fig. 3). The body is provided with holes 66 adjacent, the binding screws 62 forthe lead wires68 (Fig. 2) attached thereto and with countersunk screw holes 69 for fastening it to a support. s

For covering the switch mechanism a cap or cover 70 is provided which is adapted to be snapped into position on the insulating body. For this purpose, the ends 18 of the frame 14; are provided with centrally disposed projections or lugs 72 adapted to fit within oppositely disposed channels 74 formed in the flange of the cover 70 and to interlock with a locking projection 76 in each of the channels. The channels are formed by pressing outwardly portions of the said flange and the locking projections by making short cuts parallel to the flange edge of the cap and by pressing inwardly the metal between the cuts and the flange edge to present cut edges to engage the lugs 72 and lock the cap in position (Fig. 3).

The insulating base around its upper edge is cut out at 80 to receive the edge of the flange of the cap so that it fits around the inner face of said body to prevent lateral movement of the cap thereon. To disengage the cap from the locking projections on the two ends of'the frame to permit removal of the cap from the switch, an inward pressure is applied'to the flange at opposite points midway the locking projections which throws outthose'portions of the flange to separate the flange locking projections from the lugs on the ends of the frame. To replace the cap it is merely placed in position and pressed on the locking projections slipping over the said lugs. I I

The switch may be assembled in any suitable manncr but this operation is simple since the fastening of the switchmechanism to the insulating body requires the manipulation of the two screws 16 only. One method of as sembling the switch is to mount the toggle lever on its spindle in the frame, pass one end of the actuating spring through the hole in the tongue 30 of the toggle member and the other end over the central lug on the rocker member and then place the parts so arranged in position on the insulating body, adjust the insulation and contacts in place and aflix the screws 16 to fasten the parts in permanent position. In this operation, the actuating spring is compressed and therefore holds the rocker member in its bearings.

The actuating spring-being under comprcssion at all times throws the rocker memher and toggle lever outwardly to one side as far as they can go and holds them in that position as shown in Fig. 3. When the toggle lever is operated or snapped over, the upper end of th actuating spring is carried across the plane of the rocker member and as it passes across said plane the pressure of the springon the rocker member throws that member in the same direction that the toggle lever is moved. A slight pressure is required to force the upper end of the spring across the said plane but assoon as'it crosses then the pressure of the spring throws both members in a direction opposite to the movement of the top or toggle end of the spring. The

end walls of the central recess act as stops to limit the throw of the rocker member and the edges 8:2 of the frame serve the same pur- H I nose when engaged by the obliqueedgcs of the plate 28 in the toggle leyer. I I

It will be observed that the various parts of the switch are of'simple form and that most of said parts can be made in one operation'from sheet or ribbon material. The two fixed cont-acts are identical in constrncti( n but are mounted in reversed positions as shown in Fig. 5 to be bridged by the contact blade 46. It is to be understood that the invention is not to belimitod to the precise form herein shown and described since it may be embodied in various other forms or within the purview of the following claims.

lVhat I claim is: 1. An electric switch having, in combination, an insulating body recessed. on its outer face, a frame'fastened to the outer face of said insulating body, a pair of fixed contacts straddling said frame and insulated thcrefrom, means for fastening said fixed contacts to said insulating body to holdsaid cont-acts and frame infixed position, a rockermem ber mounted in said recess and carrying a con tact member for bridging said iixed contacts, a spring for actuating said rockeizmembcr and a toggle lever pivotally mounted in saidframe for operating said a t ati Spring 2. An electric switch having, in combination, an insulating body recessed on its outer face, a frame fastened to said outer face, a pair of fixed contacts mounted at opposite points on said body straddling said frame and insulated therefrom, means for fastening said fixed contacts to said insulating body to rtill) fixed contacts mounted actuating said sprin 3. An electric switch having, incombination, an insulating body recessed in its outer face, a frame straddling said recess and having its ends each provided with a lug, a pair of fixed contacts straddling said frame and insulated therefrom, means for fastening said fixed contacts to said insulating body to hold said frame in fixed position, a rocker member mounted in said recess for bridging said contacts to close the circuit, a spring for actuating said rocker member, a toggle lever mounted on said frame for operating said spring and a cap or cover having locking projections for engaging the end lugs on said frame for locking said cap in position.

d. An electric switch having, in combination, an insulating body recessed in its outer face, a frame straddling said recess, a pair of crosswise said frame and insulated therefrom, meansfor fastenmg said contacts to said insulating body, said means serving to hold said frame in fixed position, a rocker member loosely mounted in said recess for bridging said fixed contacts to close the circuit, a spring for ac tuating said rocker member and a toggle le-- ver pivotally mounted in said frame for operating said spring. i

An electric switch having in combination a recessed insulating body, a frame straddling said recess and having areversed U shaped central portion, a. pair of fixed contacts insulated from and straddling said frame, means for fastening said contactsto said insulating body to hold said frame in fixed position, a rocker member loosely mounted in said recess and journalled in grooves in said body for bridging said fixed contacts, a spring for actuating said rocker member, a toggle lever mounted in said central portion of said frame and a cover provided with means for interlocking withthe two ends of said frame to detachably hold said cover on said insulating body.

6. An electric switch having, in combination, a recessed insulating body, a frame straddling said recess and having a reversed U shaped central portion over said recess and outwardly extending ends, a pairoffixed contacts mounted crosswise said frame and insulated therefrom, means for fastening said contacts to said body to hold said frame in fixed position, a rocker member loosely V mounted in said recess for bridging said contacts, a spring foractuating said rocker member, and a toggle lever mounted in said central portion of said frame for operating said spring.

7. An electric switch having, incombination, a recessed insulating body, a frame straddling said recess, a pair of fined contacts straddlmg said frame and. insulated therefrom, means for fastening said contacts to said insulating body, said means serving to hold said frame in fixed positlon, a rocker member loosely mounted in said recess and journalled in grooves in said body. for bridging said fixed contacts, a spring for actuating said rocker member, means mounted in said frame for operating said spring and a cover provided with inwardly extending locking projections foe engaging the ends of said frame to lock the cover thereon.

8. An electric switch having, iu-combination, a recessed insulatingbody, a frame straddling said recess, a pair of fixed con tacts mounted crosswise said frame and insulated therefrom, means for fastening said contacts to said body to hold said frame in position, said means beinginsulated from,

said frame, a rocker member mounted in said recess forbridging said fixed contacts, a spring for'actuating said rocker member and means mounted in said frame for operating said spring. I i

9. An electric switch having, in combination, arecessed insulating body, a frame straddling tacts straddling said frame and insulated said recess, a pair of fixed con- Y therefrom, means for fastening said contacts 7 to said insulating body to hold said contacts and said frame fixed in 'POSllllOll and a switch mechanism including a rocker member loose ly mounted in said recess for bridging said fixed contacts.

10. An electric switch having, in comb nation, aerecessed insulating body, a frame straddling said recess, a pair of fixed 0011-,

tacts. straddling said frame and insulated therefrom, means for fastening said contacts to said insulating body to hold said contacts and said frame lixed'in position, a switch mechanism for bridging said fixed contacts and a cover provided with locking projections for engaging the ends of said frame to lock the cover thereon.

' In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of May, 1929.

' FRANK n. JOHNSON. 

